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andrew dalhouse

Now that Eric and Woody Henderson know they have what it takes to save the day, they finally have a shot at going pro – and they’re in luck, because UNITY might just be making a comeback! But the brothers aren’t ready for primetime just yet…they still have to audition for their spots, under the watchful eyes of G.A.T.E. and X-O Manowar!

Look, I won’t try to deny I am genuinely saddened that this is the final issue of Eliot Rahal‘s run on Quantum And Woody, let alone that it’s also the final issue of the current series for the two Henderson brothers. But I’m at least happy to see the series go out on a high note. A very high note. High enough to shatter the glass in your hand, if you want to take the analogy a little farther.

Francis Portella‘s art is coloured by Andrew Dalhouse, and captures Rahal’s swan song story with ease. With the story focusing on the brothers’ heavily encouraged audition for Unity, Valiant’s premier superhuman team, the story focuses on X-O Manowar putting Quantum and Woody through their paces in an amazingly understated work of art. Portella’s work here is super clean and easy to read, his judicious use of blank space an effective way of highlighting the emotional turmoil and internal conflict of certain characters within the comic. The grid work and panel layout are as simplistic and exciting as you would hope – often in the same dynamically constructed page. There are splash pages, traditional grids and enough eye catching imagery to give the reader a spectacular experience.

Yes, it’s the final issue, but I’m still trying to be vague so as to avoid spoilers for those wanting to go into the comic blind.

Somehow, with the last issue of the series, Eliot Rahal has demonstrated his amazing knack for getting into a character’s head and using that understanding to deliver some of the best comics you’ll read. He’s done it for Valiant before with the Archer and Armstrong Divinity III tie in, and once again with the finale of Quantum And Woody. Rahal questions what it is to be a hero, and the various shapes of heroism present in a costumed adventurers daily life – do you need to be constantly saving the world to earn your hero badge, or do you need to save somebody’s world? That Rahal is able to question the nature of superheroism whilst giving us a compelling single issue story is perhaps the highlight of the entire twelve issue run. It also has the benefit of being a brilliant introduction to the characters within the comic, which leaves me in a fairly unique position. It doesn’t matter that this is the final issue in the series, because it is such a fine example of comic book creativity it demands to be read by any and all with an interest in the medium.

When it comes to Quantum and Woody Valiant certainly saved the best for the last, and it’s a shame to see the series end on such a brilliant story. All I wanted after finishing this issue was to count down the days to the next issue – but that, ultimately isn’t going to happen. Like I said, it’s a shame.

Now that Eric and Woody Henderson know they have what it takes to save the day, they finally have a shot at going pro – and they’re in luck, because UNITY might just be making a comeback! But the brothers aren’t ready for primetime just yet…they still have to audition for their spots, under the watchful eyes of G.A.T.E. and X-O Manowar!

Start stretching now, ‘cuz you don’t want to pull a muscle when rising star writer Eliot Rahal (The Paybacks) and fan-favorite artist Francis Portela (FAITH) begin tryouts for the biggest and best superhero team around in this sensational one-shot finale!

Orphaned at a young age, Faith Herbert – a psionically gifted “psiot” discovered by the Harbinger Foundation – has always aspired to greatness. But now this once-ordinary teenager is taking control of her destiny and becoming the hard-hitting hero she’s always known she can be – complete with a mild-mannered secret identity, unsuspecting colleagues, and a day job as a reporter that routinely throws her into harm’s way! She’ll tackle every obstacle in her path with confidence – robots, aliens, monsters…and even her very first super-villain arch-nemesis bent on snuffing her out once and for all!

In a realm far more fantastical than our own, a Sky Goddess is missing… And in pursuit of their vanished cosmic princess and her nefarious captors, a squadron of soldiers from the Unknown have invaded our planet! As tensions run high and trust becomes scarce, can X-O Manowar and G.A.T.E. leader Colonel Capshaw band together to keep our world from becoming ensnared in a battle larger than life?

X-O Manowar #20is a comic about a man who possesses more firepower than most armies, a man who is a former king and emperor, and who is willingly allowing a friend to use him as a weapon. Because he’s lost, his world has changed around him during his time in space (X-O Manowar #1-13) and he seems to be looking for a new direction. But despite his fearsome prowess in battle, Aric of Dacia seems to have learnt that fighting isn’t always the answer to every question.

It’s in those moments where we see Colonel Capshaw really shine; she is effectively the only regular human in the room, with nothing but her smarts, her gun and her training, but she steals every scene. There are times in this comic where Capshaw feels like the most dangerous character in the room, despite the awe inspiring power of X-O Manowar and Atom 13. Matt Kindt‘s script retains the high quality that has become a standard of the series over the past 19 issues, and while Juan Jose Rip hasn’t been on the series as long, his art delivers a visual punch as he brings alien spacecraft and terrain to life. His choreography is also hugely enjoyable, though the artist’s hyper detailed style may not be for everybody, your humble reviewer was a big fan.

In a comic the looks back to the Divinity and Eternity stories, the reader doesn’t need to have read those tales – obviously it helps you get a little more from the comic if you have, but if you haven’t then don’t worry about it (though personally I’d highly recommend looking them up). As you may have guessed by this shorter review, X-O Manowar #20is another solid entry in Valiant’s flagship title; I can’t recommend this series to you enough.

In a realm far more fantastical than our own, a Sky Goddess is missing… And in pursuit of their vanished cosmic princess and her nefarious captors, a squadron of soldiers from the Unknown have invaded our planet! As tensions run high and trust becomes scarce, can X-O Manowar and G.A.T.E. leader Colonel Capshaw band together to keep our world from becoming ensnared in a battle larger than life?

Quantum and Woody are having a pretty terrible day so far – their atoms were dissolved in the middle of a nationwide disaster; they faced down their personal demons in “The Otherverse;” and now they’re responsible for bringing a malicious entity back with them! These guys can’t even finish a jigsaw puzzle without losing a whole bunch of pieces – how are they gonna put all of reality back together?

The basic set up for this issue is that Quantum and Woody have to save the world because the real heroes are unavailable. Eliot Rahal doesn’t hide the fact that neither Henderson brother is particularly sought after in the hero circles. His conveyance of this message is both overt and subtle. The obvious is done through the dialogue surrounding the brothers, from Colonel Jamie Capshaw and other G.A.T.E. officers, where as the subtle is in the wonderfully lettered interludes curtesy of Dave Sharpe and through Joe Eisma‘s art. The brothers never really feel like they’re going to be enough to tackle the threat, and yet we still root for them. It’s within this underdog tone that Rahal has created one of the most compelling runs in a comic series I’ve read in a long time.

Quantum & Woody #11 is one of those comics that you can, sort of, just pick up and enjoy with minimal confusion (the recap page that Valiant open the story with will more than help you here), but if you’ve been reading the book since Rahal took over then it’s an issue that rewards you with some brilliant moments in comics. It may sound like hyperbole, but this issue had me grinning from ear to ear as the brothers found a determination that I’ve seldom seen from both of them (granted my Quantum and Woody knowledge isn’t the best). There were also other emotions felt, but the less said about that the better (because spoilers, not because I want to hide that I have emotions).

What we’re given with this comic is an issue that pokes fun at itself and the title characters whilst simultaneously providing an excellent example of the type of super hero comics that will hit you right in the warm spot. That spot that triggers a really satisfied and complete feeling from you when you read or listen or watch something that moves you. Because this comic did that for me.

Ultimately with only one issue left in the series (and that issue being a one-shot story), Rahal is on pace to end his tenure with the Henderson’s on a high note. A very high note.

Quantum and Woody are having a pretty terrible day so far – their atoms were dissolved in the middle of a nationwide disaster; they faced down their personal demons in “The Otherverse;” and now they’re responsible for bringing a malicious entity back with them! These guys can’t even finish a jigsaw puzzle without losing a whole bunch of pieces – how are they gonna put all of reality back together?

Beyond time, space, and reality, there lies the Unknown…and now it’s coming here! When soldiers from a mysterious foreign realm arrive on Earth, it’s up to the armored Visigoth known as X-O Manowar – newly returned to the planet and now the leader of his own elite G.A.T.E. unit – to deal with the intrusion. But are these otherworldly emissaries truly the threat they appear to be, or does a larger danger loom over the Valiant Universe still?

I’ve been fortunate to read a lot of X-O Manowar over the last year, and not once have I felt that I’ve gotten to know Colonel Jamie Capshaw as well as I have from this issue. By using her essentially as the point of view character for the issue, Matt Kindt further explores the impact and influence of X-O Manowar on the world around him.

In terms of establishing a new arc, Kindtkicks things off with a steadily paced issue that is as good a jumping on point for new readers as any other that you’ll find. Through Capshaw’s narration we get a good grasp on who Aric is (and how she sees him) which is more than enough to enjoy the comic in your hands. For those of you who have been reading X-O Manowar across all 75 issues since the 2012 relaunch then you’ll notice how the character has grown – his experiences are literally scarred into his body, but there’s also a weight to his presence and movements that backs up all he’s gone through. Juan Jose Ryp‘s hyper detailed style suits this story (and specifically a wide-eyed officer), and X-O himself.

Kindt sets a lot up in this issue, none of which I’ll reveal here in detail as it’ll be much more fun for you to see why Capshaw is more than just a suit. For my money (and I will be buying this issue) this arc is shaping up to be one of the most exciting things we’ve seen Kindt do with the series this year.

NEW ARC! NEW JUMPING-ON POINT! “AGENT” – PART 1! Celebrating the 75th issue overall of X-O MANOWAR since 2012!

Beyond time, space, and reality, there lies the Unknown…and now it’s coming here! When soldiers from a mysterious foreign realm arrive on Earth, it’s up to the armored Visigoth known as X-O Manowar – newly returned to the planet and now the leader of his own elite G.A.T.E. unit – to deal with the intrusion. But are these otherworldly emissaries truly the threat they appear to be, or does a larger danger loom over the Valiant Universe still?

Worlds collide as Eisner Award-nominated writer Matt Kindt (ETERNITY, Grass Kings) and incendiary artist Juan José Ryp (BRITANNIA) bring a new plane of existence crashing down upon our own in a brand-new jumping-on point for 2017’s best-selling series!

When most people go on a journey, they bring back a souvenir…but most people usually stick to t-shirts and keychains, not unearthly creatures like the ones Quantum and Woody brought back from the “Otherverse”! Now, a giant monster is wreaking havoc on Washington D.C., and another anomaly – known only as “The Screaming Man” – is slowly getting acquainted with our reality. Is the world’s worst superhero team going to do anything about it? Hopefully, or this would be a really weird comic!

I have really been enjoying Quantum And Woody since Eliot Rahal took over the scripting duties on the comic, and it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to say that this has become one of my most antcipated comics each month.

This issue has the brothers facing off against what is basically Godzilla, and as they aren’t exactly the biggest powerhouses in the Valiant universe we get some inventive uses of their powers as they come to save the day. It’s moments like these that Rahal shines; he isn’t writing in way that tries to be funny (or at least it doesn’t come across that way), but rather he’s got an effortless way of bringing humour into the book without ever making it the focal point – but that won’t stop you from having a good chuckle all the way through. Quantum And Woody #10 captures the essence of a what we remember early Marvel comics to be; fun, with decidedly subtle (or not so subtle) undertones that you may or may not pick up on.

Rahal questions reality in this book, and how one’s perspectives can change based on what you are and are not aware of. And he does this while showing that even the worst of us can be heroes, no matter who writes you off as useless – which seems to be an underlying theme of the series since Rahal has taken over. Maybe that’s why I love this issue so much, or maybe I’m over thinking things. I suppose it depends on my perspective, eh?

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